‘High-health, high-performance’ horses: risk mitigation strategies for OIE-listed diseases.

The study discusses a concept called ‘high-health, high-performance’ (HHP), developed for competition horses by the World Organisation for Animal Health, aimed at addressing barriers to international horse movement with a unified strategy based on simplified certification requirements. The strategy, which reduces the risk of disease spread, involves stringent health management practices and biosecurity measures to maintain high health status among competition horses and provides additional safeguards against six specific diseases.

Understanding the ‘High-health, high performance’ concept

• The ‘High-health, high-performance’ (HHP) horse concept has been developed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in collaboration with the F6ddration Equestre Internationale and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
• The concept is designed to address the hurdles associated with the international movement of competition horses.
• The main objective of this HHP concept is to develop a streamlined, practically workable, universally applicable system based on simplified certification requirements for the temporary importation of HHP horses and their return to their usual residence.

Implementing the HHP Protocol

• This concept is based on the principle of compartmentalisation where the high health status of these horses is established and maintained by applying strict health management practices and biosecurity measures at all times.
• The intention is to create a functional separation between horses within the defined compartment, that is, the HHP horses, and all other horses.
• These measures aim to lessen the risk of spread for most diseases listed by the OIE.

Disease-Specific Mitigation Measures

• For six diseases specifically listed by the OIE – African horse sickness, equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine piroplasmosis, glanders and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis – the OIE recommends disease-specific mitigation measures.
• These disease-specific countermeasures have been included in a model HHP Veterinary Certificate, offering additional guarantees to mitigate the risk of disease spread.

Analysis of the HHP Disease Risk Mitigation Strategy

• The research demonstrates how consistent adherence to the HHP biosecurity measures and health management practices provides a well-grounded reason for limiting the list of diseases for which HHP horses should be screened during their temporary importation for competition purposes.